The Role of top 100 Fortune Companies in Natural Disaster Management

Corporations, especially fortune companies, possess unique strengths and expertise. These can be leveraged to contribute towards relief initiatives during natural disasters. This study explores the creative responses of Fortune 100 companies towards a host of social, environmental, community, and infrastructure challenges arising during natural disasters. Through an analysis of information available on the websites of top Fortune 100 companies (N =100) in the US during 2013, it is found that most corporations have been engaging in disaster-related activities for social and ethical reasons. Relief and recovery activities can be short-term or long-term. Short-term activities included financial help. The longer-term initiatives encompassed a wider stakeholder group, with activities ranging from financial assistance to collaborative partnerships with public entities such as NGOs and governments. Companies also help in disaster management simply by going about their business. Recovering with nimbleness, restarting operations, and springing back agilely is often the best way to contribute to community re-building. Companies have invested in advanced technologies to aid communities in not just withstanding disasters, but also in their long-standing development. The study concludes that companies can play a key role in disaster resilience, response, and recovery.